clan
gb/klˈæn/ us/klˈæn/
B2
English
~ 8200
klán, nemzetség, rokonság, társaság, klikk
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]’s clan; the [name] clan
My whole clan gets together every summer for a big barbecue.
Minden nyáron összejön az egész rokonságom egy nagy kerti sütögetésre.
The MacDonald clan has lived in this region for centuries.
A MacDonald-klán évszázadok óta ezen a vidéken él.
She introduced me to her clan, and there must have been thirty cousins in one room.
In the story, two powerful clans fight for control of the valley.
Many Scottish clans still celebrate their history with annual gatherings.
Learner examples
My whole clan will come to the wedding.
Az egész rokonságom eljön az esküvőre.
He is proud of his big clan.
Büszke rá, hogy ilyen népes a rokonsága.
Every year, the clan meets at my grandfather’s house.
Two clans in the village do not like each other.
Her clan comes from the north of the country.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "clan" when they just mean "parents and children". "Clan" usually suggests a larger, extended family network (many relatives and branches), not only a small nuclear family. Also, in some contexts "tribe" or "ethnic group" may be more appropriate than "clan", especially in formal or academic writing.
Meaning
large extended family group
Collocations
the whole clan
|the [surname] clan
|clan member
|clan leader
|rival clan
|Scottish clan
Synonyms
extended family (Neutral term; focuses on family connections without the strong group identity suggested by "clan".)
|
tribe (Often used for traditional or Indigenous societies; can sound technical or sensitive in modern use.)
Antonyms
individual (Focuses on a single person rather than a large, related group.)
|
outsider (Someone who does not belong to the family group or share its identity.)
Themes
family
|society
|culture
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big family group made of many related families who feel close to each other.
A large extended family group, often sharing a surname and common ancestor, whose members feel a strong sense of belonging and loyalty.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
a clan of [people]; [someone]’s clan
Our little clan from college still meets every Friday night.
Az egyetemről megmaradt kis társaságunk még mindig minden péntek este találkozik.
He joined an online gaming clan that plays almost every day.
Csatlakozott egy online játékosklánhoz, amelynek tagjai szinte mindennap játszanak.
The office lunchroom is divided into clans of people from different departments.
She has her own clan of book lovers who meet at the café every month.
In high school, I never really belonged to any of the popular clans.
Learner examples
I always eat with the same clan of friends at school.
Az iskolában mindig ugyanazzal a baráti társasággal eszem.
He is part of a gaming clan on the internet.
Tagja egy internetes játékosklánnak.
At work, there is a small clan that always sits together.
She feels safe when she is with her clan of close friends.
In that café, you can see different clans at different tables.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "clan" is only for real family groups. In modern informal English, especially online and in youth culture, it can also mean a close group of friends or people with a shared hobby (for example, a gaming clan). However, in formal writing it is better to use "group" or "community" instead of this sense of "clan".
Meaning
tight group with shared identity
Collocations
online clan
|gaming clan
|tight-knit clan
|friend clan
|clan of friends
|clan culture
Synonyms
crew (Very informal; often used for a friendly group that spends time together, especially in youth or pop culture contexts.)
|
group (More general and neutral; does not strongly suggest closeness or loyalty like "clan" does.)
|
gang (Informal; can suggest a close group of friends but may also have a criminal or negative feel depending on context.)
Antonyms
loner (Describes someone who spends a lot of time alone and is not part of a close group.)
|
stranger (Someone outside the close group with no sense of belonging to it.)
Themes
friendship
|leisure
|internet
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small, very close group of people who do many things together and feel like a family, even if they are not related.
A close, tight-knit group of people who share a strong interest, lifestyle, or identity, not necessarily related by blood.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clan
IPA
GB/klˈæn/
US/klˈæn/
Syllables & stress
clan (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (clan)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: clan
- Plural: clans
Word family
Forms
clans
noun
Core family
clannish
adjective
Related words
clansman
noun
clanswoman
noun
Advanced or less common
clannishly
adverb
clannishness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.